Syracuse continues to seek its replacement for the fired Dino Babers, and the Orange are both expanding and narrowing their search, sources with direct knowledge tell FootballScoop.
In addition to Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney, numerous sources tell FootballScoop that both Toledo head coach Jason Candle and Georgia assistant coach Fran Brown have emerged as prominent factors.
Brown especially gained momentum throughout the day Monday, and Syracuse leaned on a five-person committee in the process.
Among those figures: famed Syracuse alum Donovan McNabb, as well as Herman Frazier and Torrey Ball from within Syracuse’s upper-level athletics administration.
Chesney's merits have been previously outlined by FootballScoop, but Candle is the most proven head coach among the pool of candidates that FootballScoop has learned are deeply involved in the Syracuse search.
Candle, per sources, interviewed with Michigan State and also has emerged as a candidate in the Indiana search to replace the fired Tom Allen.
Fran Brown is an intriguing and significant candidate who hails from New Jersey.
Brown, who played in college at Western Carolina and also had a brief NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals, has coached extensively at Northeast staples Rutgers and Temple prior to joining the title-winning staff of Georgia coach Kirby Smart,
Burnishing his credentials, Brown has been both an associate head coach and a defensive coordinator. His peers for multiple years have told FootballScoop that Brown is among college football's top upcoming coaches.
Candle has again blossomed as an intriguing candidate. His work at Toledo after replacing Matt Campbell has been stellar; he's turned down multiple, lucrative Power-5 opportunities to remain at Toledo.
Candle and Brown both are coaching this upcoming weekend as Candle's Rockets take on Miami (OH) in the MAC Championship and Brown, with Georgia as they take on Alabama in the SEC Championship.
Monday night update> Following our news, other outlets are now reporting Syracuse is focusing on Fran Brown. Multiple outlets are now saying Syracuse is targeting Brown for the job.